*** Is Scientology a religion? Hubbard says no. ***
Mini-FAQ Ver. 1 September 29. 1997
William C Barwell
(1)
"Society, thirsting for more control of more people substitutes
religion for the spirit, the body for the soul, an identity for
the individual and science and data for truth. In this direction
lies insanity, increasing slavery, less knowingness, greater scarcity
and less society.
Scientology has opened the gates to a better world. It is not a
^^^^^^^^^^^
psycho-therapy nor a religion. It is a body of knowledge which,
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
when properly used, gives freedom and truth to the individual."
-- L. Ron Hubbard, "The Creation of Human Ability"
Los Angeles: A.S.H.O., 1971, page 251
(This was later removed from later editions circa 1974)
(2)
From History of Man LRH 1952
Chapter 8
"Theta clearing is about as practical and simple as repairing a shoe lace.
It is nothing to do with hypnotism, voodooism, charalatanism, monkeyism
or theosophy. Done, the thetan can do anything a stage magician can do in
in the way of moving objects around. But this isn't attained by holding
one's breathe or thinking right thoughts or voting Republican or any
other superstitous or mystic practice. So for the reason I brought up,
rule out, auditor, any mumbo jumbo or mysticism, spiritualism, or
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
religion."
^^^^^^^^
LRH
(3)
Hubbard Communications Office Policy Letter
(HCOPL) 29 Oct. 1962, "Religion":
"Scientology 1970 is being planned on a religious organization
basis throughout the world. This will not upset in any way the
usual activities of any organization. It is entirely a matter for
accountants and solicitors."
(4) In letter to Hellen O'Brien, 1953
(1953)
"DEAR HELEN APRIL 10
RE CLINIC, HAS
The arrangements that have been made seem a good temporary
measure. On a longer look, however, something more equitable will
have to be organized. I am not quite sure what we would call the
place - probably not a clinic - but I am sure that it ought to be a
company, independent of the HAS but fed by the HAS.
We don't want a clinic. We want one in operation but not in
name. Perhaps we could call it a Spiritual Guidance Center. Think up
its name, will you. And we could put in nice desks and our boys in
neat blue with diplomas on the walls and 1. knock psychotherapy into
history and 2. make enough money to shine up my operating scope and 3.
keep the HAS solvent. It is a problem of practical business.
I await your reaction on the religion angle. In my opinion,
we couldn't get worse public opinion than we have had or have less
customers with what we've got to sell. A religious charter would be
necessary in Pennsylvania or NJ to make it stick. But I sure could
make it stick. We're treating the present time beingness,
psychotherapy treats the past and the brain. And brother, that's
religion, not mental science."
Best Regards,
Ron
(5)
Is Scientology a Religion? What does Hubbard say in his book,
"The Fundamentals of Scientology"?
Fundamentals of Thought L. R. Hubbard
1956 1983 edition Bridge Publishing
*************************
Page 8
"The term Scientology is taken from the Latin word scio
(knowing in the fullest sense of the word) and logos
(study of).
Scientology, used by the untrained and the trained person,
improves the health, intelligence, ability, behavior, skill
and appearance of people.
It is a precise and exact science, designed for an age of exact
sciences."
***********************
(Well, here Hubbard had a chance to explain how Scientology is a
religion. But it is not a religion, it is an 'exact science'.)
************************
"Scientology is a branch of psychology which treats of human ability."
LRH Page 7
************************
(Scientology is supposedly a mere branch of psychology.
No religion, here either.)
(In fundamentals of thought, there are no mentions of religion.
Religion plays no part in the fundamentals of thought as defined
by Hubbard.)
****************************
Page 55
"Probably the greatest discovery of Scientology and its
most forceful contribution of makind has been the isolation,
description and handling of the human spirit, accomplished in July, 1951,
in Phoenix Arizona.
I established, along scientific rather than religous or humanitarian lines
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
that the thing which is the person, the personality, is seperable from
the body and the mind at will and without causing bodily death or
derangement."
(Not along religous lines. Note that. Not a religion.
In the book's index, religion is not listed.
Nor is religion listed in this book's glossary.)
********************************************************************
Scientology is no religion in any sense.
Except as a matter for soliciters and accountants.
As a "religous angle" as Hubbard called it in his letter
to O'Brien.
(End)
If anybody knows of other similar statements from L. Ron Hubbard
please send them to: wbarwell@starbase.neosoft.com

From: Scientific American, January 1951

[Book Review] Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, by L. Ron Hubbard. Hermitage House ($4.00).
This volume probably contains more promises and less evidence per page than has any publication since the invention of printing. Briefly, its thesis is that man is intrinsically good, has a perfect memory for every event of his life, and is a good deal more intelligent than he appears to be. However, something called the engram prevents these characteristics from being realized in man's behavior.... By a process called dianetic revery, which resembles hypnosis and which may apparently be practiced by anyone trained in dianetics, these engrams may be recalled. Once thoroughly recalled, they are 'refiled,' and the patient becomes a 'clear'.... The system is presented without qualification and without evidence.